Alumnus Class Yearbook
Based on Mufi Hannemann’s experience as a White House Fellow, the Pacific Century Fellows annually produces well-rounded community leaders. Deadline to apply for the new class is July 22
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stages of their career, the process does take time and commitment. Each year between 75 and 100 people apply for the 25-35 available positions. The list is whittled down, and the finalists are then interviewed by judges, who must agree unanimously on the selection.
“I thought all those days were over when you have to interview or rush a fraternity. That’s a bit how it felt. You sit at this luncheon and you are getting peppered with questions and people are observing how you interact with other people. It was definitely an intense interviewing process.” Greg Dickhens, Executive Vice President Kyo-ya Company
Hannemann says one of the biggest hurdles for applicants is having an appropriate history of community involvement.
“Sometimes a fellow is not selected even though the eagerness is there, the smarts are there, and we’ll say since this is a community service organization, we like this person to show that he or she has that aptitude for community service, so they should take the year off and go demonstrate some community service and come back.”
Those who have made the cut find the experience has helped them reawaken their interest in issues broader than those that happen within their own offices.
“I was just all consumed by my work here. You get kind of caught up in it, but my boss at the time, Robin Campaniano, said you need to get out, Michele, and just get out there in the community. It kind of forced me to get out and look at community issues. It just makes you take a little pause in your job and realize there are other issues out there.” -Michele Saito, President Farmers Insurance Hawaii
After being accepted, the fellows are required to attend a retreat where they discuss areas of interest and determine their path through the program.
“We set up a model for them to follow, which consists of a day each month that is dedicated to a theme or a topic that they have identified as a class,” said Hannemann. “The staples have always been criminal justice day, military day, public safety day, economic day. They are not beholden to have just nine days. They can also put together optional programs.”
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Fellows meet with high ranking individuals in government, military and the private sector to get a greater understanding of their unique challenges and to hear about how their work affects the community. The impact on the fellows has been dramatic.
“I got to walk through Halawa Prison. I got to ask, ‘Is this the best solution we can come up with as a community to lock a person up 23 hours a day and throw away the key?’” Toby Taniguchi, Executive VP of Store Operations, KTA Super Stores
The lessons and mentoring that naturally develop among the fellows and those they meet with is not lost when it comes to making business easier and more profitable. It is why many of the fellows have sent co-workers through the program.
“Even in challenging economic times, most companies see the long-term benefit in exposing their young leaders to these programs because they will be better leaders, better citizens and better employees for them.” Tim Johns
“Whenever we have the opportunity to get somebody from Bank of Hawaii into that program, I’m always enthusiastic about doing that.” -Peter Ho
With such dynamic personalities and the natural interrelationship of modern business, fellows say the networking they did is invaluable to their day-to-day operations.
“There is probably not a day that goes by that I don’t pick up the phone or see one of my classmates or someone who has been in the program. So if I have an issue on labor, I can call up Randy Perreira (class of 1997) and we talk story. So I look to those people as role models and colleagues.” -Tim Johns
For all the effort it takes to balance work, community and fellowship commitments, everyone involved says it was an enjoyable experience and one they would willingly go through again.
“You walk away with whatever you want to take from it. No final exam. No obligations. You literally go through the program and take whatever you want from it. I have never talked to anyone who said they didn’t get anything out of it, and most people continue to say they want to stay involved in the community and try to give back.” Michele Saito
Applications for the 2011 class are still being taken. Deadline is July 22. Tuition is $3,000 and tuition assistance is available, although according to Hannemann most businesses pick up the cost for employees.
Interested future fellows can download an application at pacificcenturyfellows.com.
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